Alliance members are working to achieve the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping temperature increases below 1.5 degrees Celsius by reducing emissions, accelerating action, centering equity, and tracking progress.

Explore Connecticut's policies and actions across the Alliance's 10 key policy areas. Numbers presented below only reflect the number of policies in this database and thus may not reflect all climate policies pursued.

connecticut

GHG Targets + Governance

Just Transition + Equity

Industry

Pricing Carbon + Valuing Damages

Electricity Generation

Transportation

Resilience

Natural + Working Lands

Climate Finance

Buildings

total

2030 VMT Goal and Strategies Plan

As required by Governor Lamont’s Executive Order 21-3, on reduction of carbon emissions and preparation for the impacts of climate change, the Department of Transportation has prepared 2030 VMT Goals and Strategies. The Executive Order instructed that CTDOT set a 2030 Vehicle Miles Traveled [VMT] reduction target and develop a plan of investments to contribute to and encourage the achievement of such targeted reductions.

The purpose of including a VMT reduction target is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the vehicles individuals choose to drive in Connecticut. The target set is a 5% reduction in VMT per person by 2030 (from a 2019 baseline). While land use decisions both past and present play a very large role in VMT, as do other factors such as the economy, population demographics, fuel prices and personal choices, DOT has set forth a set of strategies that it can influence.

The strategies involving DOT that could have the largest potential influence on VMT are:

- Increase Active Transportation/Complete Streets infrastructure in areas of urban/dense residential/commercial development
- Increase in transit frequency
- Increase in transit access
- Continue to assist/partner with Municipalities who are pursuing Transit-Oriented Development
- Trip Reduction Program (e.g., employer-based programs)

An Assessment of Connecticut’s Need to Adopt California’s Medium and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Emission Standards

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) released a report issued under Gov. Lamont’s Executive Order 21-3 finding that Connecticut can significantly improve air quality and public health by adopting new emission standards for medium and heavy-duty (MHD) vehicles offered for sale in Connecticut beginning in 2026.

Public Act 23-135

Starting by October 1, 2030, the act requires the DOT commissioner, in consultation with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) commissioner, to biennially establish a transportation carbon dioxide reduction target for the state that sets the maximum amount of carbon dioxide emissions allowed from the transportation sector. When setting the target, the commissioners must consider the state’s long-term greenhouse gas emissions reductions requirements. 

Under the act, the DOT commissioner must develop and implement a strategic plan to ensure that transportation projects included in the state transportation improvement program do not exceed the emissions reduction target.

Under the act, the DOT commissioner must develop and implement a strategic plan to ensure that transportation projects included in the state transportation improvement program do not exceed the emissions reduction target. The plan must at least include the following:

1. a definition of “transportation project” that excludes projects exempt from federal air quality standards (e.g., certain safety-related projects, pavement resurfacing, transit building renovations, new bus and rail car purchases, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities);
2. the methodology for calculating the carbon dioxide emissions expected from future transportation projects; and
3. a description of the carbon dioxide mitigation transportation projects, like public transportation improvements; bikeway, walkway, or other multiuse trail or path construction; and electric vehicle charging infrastructure installation.

Strategic Plan for Evaluating Transportation Project Emissions in the State Transportation Improvement Program

Starting by October 1, 2030, the act requires the DOT commissioner, in consultation with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) commissioner, to biennially establish a transportation carbon dioxide reduction target for the state that sets the maximum amount of carbon dioxide emissions allowed from the transportation sector. When setting the target, the commissioners must consider the state’s long-term greenhouse gas emissions reductions requirements.